As we enter Day 3 of the search for missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370, Malaysiakini recaps what we know about the situation so far.

The plane

  • The aircraft involved is a Boeing 777-200ER, a plane that has a stellar performance record and is used by airlines worldwide.

 

  • The aircraft disappeared from the radar screen at 1.30am on March 8, 120 nautical miles off Kota Bharu and over the South China Sea. This is at the border of Malaysian-Vietnamese airspace. It had fuel to last until 8.30am that day.

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  • There was no distress call. The last verbal communication with the pilot was when Subang air traffic controllers transferred control to Ho Chi Minh City. Both the pilot and Ho Chi Minh City acknowleged the transfer.

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  • Data transmitted from the plane to its base at MAS showed no anomalies. The plane had no technical problem.

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  • The wing tip of the plane had been slightly damaged in 2012, but it was repaired by and certified fit for flying by the manufacturers, Boeing.

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  • Air force radar data shows the plane may have attempted to turn back. This is partially corroborated by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) radar data. However, no advisory was received from the captain, as required by protocol.

    • The people on board

    • There were 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12 crew members on board. Of these, 152 are Chinese nationals, 38 are Malaysians and the rest are from 12 other countries.

     

  • The pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, has an extensive 18,365 flying hours under his belt. He also trains pilots to fly the Boeing 777-200ER and has built his own 777 flight simulator at home. First officer Fariq Ab Hamid, 27, has 2,763 hours of experience. All 10 cabin crew are Malaysians.

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  • Two men listed on the passenger manifest are impostors. Italian Luigi Maraldi and Austrian Christian Kozel were not on the plane - their passports had been stolen in Thailand.

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  • Tickets issued to the duo on board were purchased at the same time, using Thai baht, from code-share airline China Southern Airline.

    • Search and rescue mission

    • The multinational search involves the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca.

     

  • Vietnamese and Malaysian agencies have found two large oil slicks off their respective shores. The oil is being tested to determine if it is from Flight MH370.

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  • All reports of debris or wreckage spotted have been denied as false or are unrelated to Flight MH370.

    • Investigation of security breach

    • The FBI and Malaysian intelligence are combing through the passenger manifest for possible terror links, following the discovery that stolen passports were used. Aviation experts say that use of stolen passports is not a definitive sign of terrorism.

     

  • DCA and MAS have looked through all CCTV footage of passengers and information on baggage, and have found nothing untoward.

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  • Five people checked in but did not make it on board. Their baggage was removed from the plane prior to departure.